Steam hand iron



March 9, 1943. M. M. KISTNER STEAM HAND IRON Filed oct. 15, 1938 3 sheetsfsheet 1 /Uff jin/W77? March 9, 1943. M M KlSTNER 2,313,382

STEAM HAND IRON Filed Oct. l5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 9, 1943. M M, KlsTNER 2,313,382

STEAM HAND IRON Filed Oct. l5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM HAND IRON Merrill M. Kistner, Chicago, Ill. Application October 15, 1938, Serial No. 235,131

10 Claims.

This invention relates tohand irons and particularly to an iron having a reservoir fpr water and means for controlling the flow of this water for creating steam to be applied to garments as they are ironed.

Ironing is the process involving the removal of moisture from cloth. The first requirement of good ironing is that the cloth be dampeneduniformly dampened. To properly dampen garments for -ironing normally requires that the garments be sprinkled, then rolled, then covered for a considerable length of time-usually overnightbut not less than two hours for good work. Often this is not practical or convenient and, therefore, a means ,to provide uniform dampening is of definite advantage in the domestic ironing process.

It further is true that certain fabrics, such as velvets, rayons, tulles, etc., are not easily ironed by a conventional electric iron. It is well known that a steam iron is definitely superior for ironing fabrics of this type.

The particular object of this invention is to provide in a domestic hand iron means and structure whereby the iron may be used either as a conventional electric iron or as a steaming iron.-

Another object is to provide in a domestic steam iron means and structure whereby the steam is ash-formed by the drip of water from the reservoir controlled at the will of thev operator.

A still further object is to provide an iron as above described which may be stood in vertical position and in that position all flow of water and steam will stop.

A still further object is to provide a structure in a domestic steam iron that is simple, durable and devoid of danger from the formation of steam.

Other objects and benefits will be disclosed in the following descriptions and drawings in which:

Fig. .1 is a side elevation view of my iron complete;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental sectional elevation view of the front of my iron to better show the arrangement of interior parts;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the iron standing in supported upright position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, as it appears in elevation from the handle side of the iron; i Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of my n'oner shoe with heating element and drip plate;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the bottom member of the water reservoir;

Fig. 'l is a broken cross-sectional v iew on the section lines 1 8 of Fig. 5 to show an optional arrangement of steam orice; and

Fig. 8 is a similar View to Fig. 7 to show another optional orice.

Now referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3. 4 and 5; I designate the shoe or sole plate of my iron by the numeral I0. Attached to this shoe by serrated edged screws II and I2 is the shoe cover I3. It will be noted that I show this shoe cover I3 covered with ribs. 'Ihese ribs are really peaked dissipating fins, because, as will later be explained, the entire shoe cover acts as a heat radiator.

Attached to each cover I3 by the screws I5 and I 6 is a handle I4. 'Ihis handle is preferably made of Bakelite or similar phenolic resin product as is commonly used for this purpose.

In Fig. 2 it will be noted that a water reservoir is formed in the front end of the shoe cover I3, which water reservoir is completed by a bottom member I'I attached to the shoe cover by screws I8. In Fig. 6 I show a top view of this member Il, showing the valve seat I1' and the screw holes I8'. From this description it will be understood that by means of the member I'I, I form the reservoir in the cover I3.

Interposed between the member Il and the reservoir is a gasket member I9. This gasket is not only designed to make the reservoir watertight, butalso acts as an insulator to keep the heat from the shoe Ill from flowing into the shoe cover I3. Similarly, a gasket 20 is interposed between the shoe cover I3 and the shoe I0. This gasket 20 covers the entire upper area of the shoe I0 and thus forms not only a block against the transmission of heat by conduction for the shoe cover, but transmission of heat by members.

Extending into the reservoir is a hollow funnel-shaped needle valve'2I. This needle valve has a tapered seat member 22 which fits into the needle valve I'I in the plate I1. It will be noted also acts to prevent the radiation between these that this needle valve is threaded through the boss I3 of the cover I3, and thus by manipulating the needle valve by the knurled top section 25 the valve is opened or closed at the will of the operator. The upper extremity of the needle valve 2| ends in a funnel-.shaped section 24, the purpose of which is to facilitate the filling of thc reservoir by the operator with a pitcher or the like. Through the bottom of the needle valve 2| are drilled holes 23 through which the water empties into the reservoir. It will benoted that this needle valve 2| is located in the front section of the reservoir and that the holes 23 end at a height which will stop the filling of the reservoir because of trap area above this point. 'I'he height of these holes is gauged with reference to the position of the needle valve so that when the iron is stood upright, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the water in the reservoir at its highest level will be below the needle valve 2`I and the Therefore, when the operator stands the iron in its upright position all flow of water is stopped. It will, of course, be further understood that such'ilow of water can also be stopped by closing the needle valve by manual manipulation from the knurls 25, and under these conditions the iron will be used only as a conventional electric hand iron. Y

Now referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 5, it will be noted that in a recess of the shoe, I insert a sheathed land sealed tubular type heating element 26. Such tubular type heating element is completely sealed both against moisture and electrical contacts with anichrome wire im` bedded therein. This type of element is particularly Well fitted for a steam iron of the type described, because of its durable and effective sealed construction. It will further be noted that I have arranged a loop 26' of the element 26 in the forward section of the shoe directly under the drip cup member 21, which is held in position by the screws 28. `The purpose of this structure is not only to provide extra heat at the point of the iron, but also to provide a heat means whereby water from the reservoir dripping into the cup 21 will immediately be flashed into steam, which will escape through the holes 29 through the shoeill.

Now referring to Figs. 7 and 8, I show two optional structures of steam orifices. In some localities the water contains calcium and other minerals to an extent that they create a tendency to clog small orifices. In Fig. 'l I show a large recess 29' in the shoe and in the bottom of this recess I insert a short tube of stainless steel or the like. In Fig. 8 I show a large recess 29" and a small short orifice 4I. Both of these structures have far less tendency to clog and corrode than the longer orifice as shown in Fig. 2. Further, the recess between the hole 29 and the tube 40 in Fig. 7 is eective in catching and holding such metallic deposits.

As best shown in Figsfl, 3 and 4, I have provided a spring lead wire support 3l, which supports a conventional lead wire or supply cord 31 as it enters into the rear of the iron. This cord 31 is attached through a thermostat 32 to the heating element 26 by means of conventional wiring 34, and 36.

This thermostat 32 is a conventional apparatus used in irons of this type for controlling the temperature of the iron. Such temperature control means is provided in the marked Bakelite handle 33 and the vertical point indicator 33'. By means of this apparatus the operator may adjust the temperature of the iron to any point within the normal ironing range.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the shoe cover i3, the handle I4 and the spring support member 3l are arranged to cooperate as vertical support means for my iron. The shoe cover I3 is provided with point support members 38 and 33 which cooperate with the handle Il to form a three-point vertical support. By referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that I have arranged spring cord support 3| in such a manner that it cooperates with the above named means to provide additional supporting means.

From the foregoing it will be understood that I have provided a structure in a hand iron whereby the iron may be operated as a conventional electrical iron or at the will of the operator the reservoir may be filled with water, and steam used in conjunction with the ironing process.

Further, I have provided a structure whereby the amount of steam may be adjusted at the will of the operator and whenthe ironer is stood in upright position, the flow of water and steam will stop.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: 1. In an ironing device, the combination of a body having an operative ironing position and an inoperative uptilted position, means for supporting said body in said uptilted position, steam generating means including heating means and a water reservoir in said body, and a valve controlled duct between said reservoir and heating means at the nose portion of the device, said duct being normally open in both of said positions when said device is set for steaming operation, and being located and arranged to deliver water to said heating means for conversion into steam only when said body is in its operative ironing position.

2. An iron having, in combination, a body having a nose, means for supporting said body in a position of rest in which the nose of said body is elevated, heating means, a reservoir in the body having a normally open outlet therefrom leading from a point near the nose to an area heated by said heating means, steam discharging means leading from said area, and means for limiting the quantity of water in said reservoir to locate the water level in the reservoir below said outlet when the body is in its position of rest.

3. In an iron of the character described, the combination of afbody including a Water reservoir, and means for converting water from said reservoir into steam, valve means controlling the flow of water from said reservoir, and operating means for said valve means having a passage therein opening externally through the top of the iron and internally of said reservoir for the introduction of water into said reservoir.

4. In an iron of the character described, the combination of a body including a water reservoir, and means for converting water from said reservoir into steam, valve means controlling the flow of water from said reservoir, and a valve operator having a passage therein for conducting water into said reservoir, the opening of said passage within said reservoir being disposed below the top of the reservoir to limit the total quantity of water which may be introduced to less than the total capacity of the reservoir.

5. In an iron of the character described, the combination of a body having heating means and a water reservoir therein, valve controlled means for delivering water into steam generating relation to said heating means, an open conduit for introducing water by gravity flow to said reservoir, said conduit terminating below the top of said reservoir to limit the quantity of water introduced, and the termination of said conduit being above the water level when the iron is upended, and means for supporting the iron in upended position.

6. An iron having, in combination, a base, a heating element of the cylindrical insulatedsheath type mounted on said base, said element being shaped generally to follow the contour of the side margins of the base and having a relatively narrow U-shaped portion at the nose of the iron deilnng an area subjected to relatively concentrated heat energy, a water reservoir, and means for controlling -the discharge of water from said reservoir to said area.

'7. An ironing device having, in combination, an ironing body having means for supporting it in an upended .position of rest, steam generating means including a heating means and a water reservoir in said body, and an outlet from said reservoir to said heating means open under all conditions when the device is set for steaming operation, said reservoir having an air vent in the portion of the iron that is elevated when the iron is upended, said vent being provided with an aperture in fluid communication with the interior of said reservoir, and whose elevation determines the high water level in said reservoir when said iron body is in operative position, the relationship of said water level with respect to the total volume of the reservoir being such as to locate the water level below said outlet when the iron body is upended to discontinue the ow of water from said reservoir through the open outlet when the iron is in `such position.

8. In an iron, the combination of an iron body having a pointed nose and having a correspondingly shaped ironing base, means for supporting said base on one end thereof, a water reservoir in the nose portion of said body disposed immediately above said base when the iron is in its ironing position, heating means for said lbase, said base having an area of concentrated heat energy in its nose portion arranged directly opposite to said reservoir to receive and convert water into steam, and normally open adjustable valve means interposed directly beteween said reservoir and said area for controlling the flow of water from said reservoir to the point of steam generation, said valve means being so disposed in the nose portion of said reservoir as to locate the passageway therethrough above the water level in said reservoir when the base is supported on the end thereof to prevent a flow of water through the valve when the iron is upended.

9. In an iron of the character described, the combination of an ironing shoe having ports for discharging steam against an article being ironed, heating means associated with said shoe, means defining a steam generating chamber in said iron, a water reservoir in said iron for delivering water to said steam generating chamber, and valve means for controlling the flow of water from said reservoir, said iron having a handle including a portion disposed above said reservoir, a valve operating member extending through said handle portion into said reservoir and connected with said valve, said member having screw threaded engagement with said reservoir, and an enlarged head for variably adjusting the position of said valve, said member and head having a passageway therein internally communicating with said reservoir and opening to atmosphere, a portion of said passageway in to provide a funnel-like mouth.

10. In an iron of the character described, the combination of a body including a heated ironing shoe having associated therewith steam generating and discharging means, a water reservoir in said iron for supplying water to said shoe for generation into steam, connecting means between said reservoir and the steam generating means including valve means for controlling the ow of water from said reservoir to said steam generating means, and a valve operating member extending externally of said reservoir having a passageway therein leading into said reservoir from the outside of said body through which passageway said reservoir may be lled.

MERRILL M. KISTNER.

said head aring outwardly 

